I am debating considerably between these two lenses and know the obvious differences, but after some searching i haven't found any example/comparison photos.
Does anyone in here have experience with both? Pros/cons?
I like the close focus of the F2 but i also love the microcontrast/colours i see in the zeiss.
I am looking at either for travel.

I have never owned both at the same time, so I don't really have any comparison images. What I can say with absolute certainty is that when I owned the Olympus, I was never really happy with it. I didn't like the colors and contrast, and the sharpness was nothing special. I even bought a second copy just to make sure the first wasn't "bad".

Owning the ZE 21 is a whole different story. The IQ is stunning and you know why it is worth carrying a lens that is 3-4 times the size and weight of the Oly.

If you buy a Zeiss 21mm, the only thing that will disappoint is the weight.

I am fine with distortion if i didn't want it i'd buy a tilt shift lens.
The price is not THAT much more than a mint condition 21 f2 actually and that's why i'd like to hear more opinions since i don't want to end up disappointed.

I've never had an Olympus 21/2. I do have an Olympus 21/3.5 and the Zeiss 21. The Olympus is a great lens for the size and price. The Zeiss is the only UWA I've had that I go looking for things to shoot with. It's simply spectacular. It is big and heavy and I'll manage it.

While we're at it then, the Canon 17-40 F4 weighs 600g. It's not as fast but may be more versatile with 17mm on the short end. It's pretty cheap, too.

I wouldn't hesitate about getting this lens if it wasn't for the IQ on 5D2 that I'm not impressed with. While like Nikon 14-24 F2.8 is clearly a stellar optical performer, its weight and more importantly cost put it outside my capacities for travelling.

I'm with Ed, I like the olympus 21/2 and for much the same reasons. I don't have a problem with the color, but it does have a different look than the zeiss lenses. Likewise I haven't found the sharpness a problem.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I've never tried the Zeiss 21mm so I really can't give you a comparison. It does seem that the Zeiss is a strong performer and I suspect that it would come out on top in many respects in a head-to-head test with the Oly 21. I'm not sure what the margin of victory would be though.

jotdeh wrote:
While we're at it then, the Canon 17-40 F4 weighs 600g. It's not as fast but may be more versatile with 17mm on the short end. It's pretty cheap, too.

I wouldn't hesitate about getting this lens if it wasn't for the IQ on 5D2 that I'm not impressed with. While like Nikon 14-24 F2.8 is clearly a stellar optical performer, its weight and more importantly cost put it outside my capacities for travelling.

Thoughts?

The Oly 21/2 beats the 17-40 in terms of sharpness in my experience. The 17-40s extreme corners never get particularly sharp but are acceptable at f8-f11. With that said, the 17-40L is still an incredible lens overall (colors, AF, contrast, build, weight, price).